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We’ve all known for a long time that scammers ask people to pay by wiring money. Money wiring companies like MoneyGram and Western Union have also known that scammers have people wire money using their services. In fact, the FTC has sued both companies – which have paid a lot of money to settle those charges – over exactly that issue. When the FTC settled with those companies (MoneyGram in 2009, Western Union in 2017), they also agreed to make changes to protect people from fraud. Except MoneyGram didn’t actually take some of those important steps.

That’s why the FTC and the Department of Justice (DOJ) just announced a new settlement with MoneyGram for $125 million. That money will eventually go back to people who wired – and lost – money to a scammer through MoneyGram starting in 2013. (There will be a date range for eligible refund requests. Exact dates will follow.)

Here’s the story: in 2009, MoneyGram had promised to vet the agents they were hiring, train them to spot fraud, monitor them to watch for fraud-related money transfers, take action if they saw an agent who didn’t try to reduce fraud, and also record fraud complaints and share them with the FTC.

But the FTC’s investigation showed that MoneyGram hadn’t adequately done those things – especially in their large chain outlets. And MoneyGram’s system that should have helped spot and stop fraudsters operating in plain sight? It basically didn’t work for a year and a half, letting millions of dollars in fraud-related transfers go through.

Now, MoneyGram has to put in place more protections that address all the ways it did not follow the order last time. And pay that $125 million to DOJ, which will work with the FTC to set up a refund program to get it back to people.

What should you do to get a refund? Right now, nothing. It might take several months for the refund process to even start. When it does, it will be free to request a refund. And we’ll tell you here and at ftc.gov/MoneyGram what happens next.

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FTC Staff
March 19, 2021

In reply to by Kingdetailer

Get information about MoneyGram refunds at www.FTC.gov/MoneyGram and www.MoneyGramRemission.com.

Callini49
March 19, 2021
They got me for $1800 dollars and moneygram or First TN said that there was nothing that could be done. They sent me a very professional email from Nike in being a personal shopper and the check bounced! Nike did take the compliant but never heard anything from them either! I was broke had my car repossessed and lost my full time job!
gloriafrances6…
April 16, 2021
My friend sent me money thur money gram but when i went to pick it up it was already retrieved how can that be
Anne
April 23, 2021
I payed money for a scammer by money gram, have the transaction list, but how to get it back. It's for me very difficult, because I only get very little pension. I'm ashamed, that it happend to me
Not Happy!!
June 01, 2021
I am guessing this refund lawsuit is different than the one for Western Union or are they one in the same??
Rosebud62
June 08, 2021
I was also scammed out of alot of money. I hope I can get some of my money back.
Laura Thorpe
June 13, 2021
I have a question I sent money to my fiance in Nigeria he didn't get money the receivers said it being picked up but he didn't get it I told money gram about it my fiance went to his bank the bank said that they couldn't see the money because it was a technical error I just wanted my refund back I have a right to receive my money back from money gram
Yvonne
July 04, 2021
why do I have to pay moneygram for a uncashed money order I brought?
Kit
July 19, 2021
I transferred much money from Thailand to a scammer in UK, it’s about 2600GBP. It happened on 2016.
KomodoDragon
July 31, 2021
I was scammed 12-18. One year later. Why can I not ask for help too?
Rusty59
August 28, 2021
Hello, does anyone know how to check the status of your remission? I sent my remission in before June 1st, but have not heard or received any confirmation. I tried calling the number on my remission paperwork, but can’t get thru to anyone. Any suggestions on how to confirm they received it?
Cosmo2010
September 14, 2021
I was scammed by a man in military to come back to US. at least $20,000 dollars I believed in him and was trying to help him he said he will pay back as soon as he got into the us, where his pay was being held till he returned from duty after a while I cancelled the relationship because I found out it was a scam.
Sandrell
September 14, 2021
I got scammed
Single mother
October 01, 2021
Hey guys I was just scammed by a person claiming to work for lguplus online English teacher . They claim to have your teaching material at the airport and have to pay all these fees to have the package delivered to you by using asia bureau and the Supreme Court. I was scammed thousands of dollars.
SueT
October 13, 2021
I was a victim of a Scammer in 2016. I had no idea that there were people like this who existed. My first thought in my mind was, how could a business allow to transfer the Large amount of my money out of country and never question or alert me??! And that business was Money Gram Services. I reported this to the police and a Deputy Sherrif came to my residence. The Sherrif took pictures of my last recent Money Gram transfer receipts and also gave me the contact information for the Fraud department locally. The Fraud department worked with me on the US Embassy side and the International Embassy side. After 3 months of phone calls following up, the International Embassy stated to me that they could not find my Money or where it went. I surrendered at that moment, that I needed to believe in faith that one day justice will be served and get my Money back. In April of 2021 I received a legal letter from the Federal Trade Commission indicating my total amount of Money Gram transfer funds. I was elated to say the least! I patiently am in waiting for the day that I open my mailbox and justice is served. Thank you FTC for having my backside and for making a Wrong, a Right!! My heart goes out to anyone who has been Scammed... Patients will be worth the wait! I have not and Never will ever again fall for any fake phony persuasive conversation with anyone since that happened too me! I learned a HUGE lesson!!!
Boysz5
October 19, 2021
Scams are still happening today thru Moneygram. Just had 2700+ taken fraudulently. Although moneygram recognized the transaction as fraud and shut down acct the user set up fraudulently, they would do nothing to return the money. Explanation was that because money had already been picked up there was nothing they could do. If Moneygram has no ownership in validating a transaction to ensure it is not fraudulent they should be shut down. When transaction is between USA and person in middle east or asia and thru acct just set up that should be first clue it is fraudulent and should not be authorized.
hi_jenkx
November 19, 2021
The time frame for refunds seems to be excessively long, particularly for those of us who received forms with Claim No. and PIN info stating the MoneyGram and FTC recorded amount of our losses. I'm a bit confused by the statement that it will take more than a year to verify claims. Isn't that what the claim form I received did? Wasn't that a verification of the loss amount, that I agreed with, that MoneyGram and the FTC had record of? What additional verification is needed? This company Gilardi has managed billions of dollars in legal settlements for decades now, and I find it difficult to believe they would have sent claim forms that weren't already thoroughly researched. For those submitting claims later on in the process on their own, I understand the need for time to verify. But the money for those of us whose verification is complete need not be held up during that process. I would guess there will not be one unbelievably mass refund mailing anyway, but it will be done in stages. I would like to receive the refund amount that was already verified, in 2018, in a reasonable amount of time. That is not happening. Why not?
K.imba
November 29, 2021

In reply to by hi_jenkx

I was wondering the same thing. I received a verification notice and do not understand why so long.
Brenda P
December 10, 2021
I got a prefilled form. I signed it. I am just wondering when we might get the money back?